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November 17, 1909. TI
all, and that without taking a minute
to sleep or to eat.
Admitting that the twelve apostles baptized,
it would take each of them eight
hours to baptize the multitude, allowing
two minutes for each convert, and without
eating or stopping one minute to
rest!
If i o At- ? a? ? *
.v mo uuv vcnaiii luui iub iweive apostles
baptized. Peter's sermon, and the
exhortation of the other apostles, lasted
possibly till noon, so that we must come
to the conclusion that this multitude was
immersed in half a day; this is out of
reason; no such ceremony could be conducted
decently and in order, in such a
short space of time.
Furthermore, there was not enough
water in Jerusalem to immerse all these
people at that time. Water in Jerusalem
is as precious as gold; it is sold by the
quart; we are all familiar with the water
carrier; now tlie apostles were poor men
(silver and gold have I none, said Peter)
how could they purchase enough water
to immerse this great crowd?
But what will our Baptist friends say
to the 5,000 men who believed a few days
afterwards and who were probably baptized
also? Immersion is out of the question.
Whereas, if we interpret the passage
in the light of sprinkling, every difficulty
disappears. The apostles, each holding a
branch of the hyssop, would dip it into a
basin of water, and as the crowd passed
by in large groups, they would sprinkle
them. The whole transaction was symbolical;
the point to be emphasized was
that they were washed from their sins,
?uu me simple sprinkling taught this
very clearly.
Nor did this baptism mean the death
and resurrection of our .Lord, as our Baptist
friends are wont to teach. But we
have the assurance from Peter himself
that baptism means the remission of sins
in Acts 2: 38: "Peter said unto them,
ltepent and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR
THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
THINGS CIVIL VS. THINGS SPIRITUAL
"The Presbytery of Florida views
with no little concern the manifest confusion
in the public mind, throughout the
land, of thing's civil and things spiritual.
"Our denomination holds as its distinctive
principles, very clear conceptions on
this matter. We take occasion in our
pastoral relation, as a Presbytery, to the
churches to recall to the minds of our
people these distinctive principles.
"The Church is a supernatural institution
founded upon the word of God for
the realization of the idea of Grace. This
end is to be reached by bearing witness
to the truth of God's word and prayer
for the influence nf the Hniv nhnot
the hearts of the hearer. Its work is by
the ministry of God's word to call out
Cod's elect and train them for glory. The
Church as such in its courts and by its
ministry, sustains no relation to matters
of civil expediency which are committed
to the state.
i
iE PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SC
"Let not our people allow differences of
opinion on questions of civil expediency
to invade the church life or divide God's
Church. The Church's mission is spiritual
and not civil, individual and not social,
for regeneration and sanctification
and not for reform either social or politipol
"
ASSEMBLY'S HOME AND SCHOOL.
Dear Friends: We wrote you some
time ago telling you that the contract for
the education of our young people in the
Home with Fredericksburg College expired
in 1908, and that since that time
we have had a temporary arrangement
with this institution. We have been notified
that this temporary arrangement
closes with this session, and we are now
compelled to make a permanent one. The
last two Assemblies have approved of
iue ymu we nave in mind or purchasing
or erecting necessary buildings, but we
have not had the means with which to
proceed. We again beg you to come to
our help. It is estimated it will cost
about $20,000 to complete the arrangement.
We asked if there were not a sufficient
number of God's servants able and
willing to contribute $500 or $1,000 each
to this cause, so that we may at once begin
to arrange for the next session. In answer
to that appeal we have in pledges
and checks secured $4,100. Of this amount
$1,000 each came from two, $500 each
from four and $100 from one. We again
appeal for help in this matter. The situation
is serious and urgent We must
act and we look for friends to help us in
the emergency. Are there not many
more in our Church who are willing and
able to help us and to help us now?
Brethren, the situation is grave, and you
have before you a splendid opportunity
to help in a cause dear and precious to
n ? ?
me uenn. ui me oaviour, me cause or
the education of the children of our deceased
brethren and of our ministers.
Let us hear from you.
Fraternally yours,
Russell Cecil, Pres. Board of Trustees.
3. W. Somerville, Supt. and Treas.
Send contributions to S. W. Somerville,
Supt. Fredericksburg, Va.
PALMER ORPHANAGE.
"It is a good thing to give thanks unto
the Lord." Another day of national
thanksgiving draws near, and we find it
in our hearts to render thanks to the
Giver of all good, for His manifold mercies
the past year. He has blessed our
home with unprecedented health, and a
reasonable share of the good things of
this life. There has been no case of serious
or protracted sickness among our
seventy Inmates. The Lord has put it
into the hearts of a greater number of
His people than ever before to come up
to the help of our work. Trials and troubles
have come upon us, but out of them
all the Lord has delivered us.
We know, too, full well, that our
friends all over the country have had
their share of blessings, for which they
will offer thanks. May we not ask a
share in your sacrifices of thanksgiving?
>UTH. 15
Bear in mind God's instructions to Israel,
"Go your way, eat the fat, and drink
the sweet, and send portions unto them
for whom nothing is prepared." Remember
we have sixty-three fatherless ones
for whom nothing is prepared save as
God puts it into the hearts of his more
favored ones to prepare something for
fk/x? -r* *
.Usui. rvtsniemDer tnere are others seeking
admission but, for the present, we
are full and have not the means to enlarge
our borders. Remember there are
other improvements needed to make our
work more successful.
Think of us in our utter helplessness,
and may the God of the fatherless open
your hearts to our work, that you may
realize the glorious truth that "It is more
blessed to give than to receive." And
may heaven's richest blessings rest on
you one and all.
Your servant in the work,
W. V. Frierson,
Superintendent.
Columbus, Miss., November 6, 1909.
NOVEMBER NOTES FROM THE
THORNWELL ORPHANAGE.
The older pupils of the Thornwell Orphanage,
with a number of their matrons
and teachers, were given a great treat
this past month. Mr. W. G. Childs, of
the C. N. & L. R. R., placed two cars at
their disposal for an all day's visit to
the State Mechanical and Agricultural
Fair at Columbia, 70 miles south of us.
Mr. \V. A. Clark, of Columbia, met the
young people at the train. Mr. William
Elliott, president of the city railway,
placed two observation cars at their
service. They were taken all around
the city, shown the colleges, the Capitol,
the Theological Seminary, the streets
gaily decorated for the reception of
President Taft and thence to the fair
grounds. They were met there by the
ladies of the First Presbyterian Church
ana given an ample dinner, were admitted
to all the sights of the fair grounds free,
and sent home at night a tired, but very
happy crowd of boys and girls.
Another very interesting event was f
the contribution of $2,000 for the erection
of a cottage for boys. This gift was
made by a South Carolina lady, who asks
that until the cottage be finished her
name he withheld. This building is now
in process of erection. It will be made
a home for our farmer boys. We need
a first rate farmer and his wife to take
charge.
In addition, Rev. J. B. Branch is now
in Florida to secure funds for a Florida
cottage, which will add more mouths yet
to be fed.
There are no sick in the Infirmary.
We are under great obligations to the
Ladies' Auxiliary Society of the Presbyterian
Hospital of Atlanta and to the
surgeons in charge, for their kindly giving
many months' treatment to one of
onr OrnhonoflrA ??* 1 ' *
? u.fua.mbc uuja wliu uas uaa. a aeformed
foot straightened. Both we and
he are glad and fervently sav, "God bless
that noble work.
Wm. P. Jacobs.
Clinton, S. C.